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The capital is swarming with tourists, and two of them are staying with us. Anna and her nine-year-old daughter flew in from Florida for a week's holiday, with no plans to see the Olympics, as tickets are too pricey. (Though now that Anna's seen a well-placed seat at the women's netball reduced to pounds 100, they may reconsider.)

On their first day, as they fought with their jet lag, I produced a collection of leaflets I'd put together for them. I'd ticked every box of the new London experience, I felt, with brochures that covered everything from what's on at the Southbank Centre to the London Eye and the Saatchi Gallery. But it wasn't Cool Britannia the visitors were after. They were resolutely in search of the old-fashioned version, featuring Buckingham Palace, the British Museum and Madame Tussauds.

This was London the Prince Charles way: Beefeaters and double-decker buses rather than Renzo Piano and Damien Hirst. I was further surprised to find that Anna and Sophia were typical of the incoming hordes this summer: the Visit London guide confirms that tourists rank the British Museum and the National Gallery as their top capital attractions, while the Eye comes a mere fifth. The Shard and the Southbank Centre don't feature.

I can't help thinking, as our guests come home lugging mugs marking the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (bought on their visit to Westminster Abbey) and tea towels adorned with Big Ben (bought at the V&A), that they're teaching me that the rest of the world still loves Britain. Its street cred may lure globetrotters with intellectual pretentions or fashionista flair, but it's not our unique selling point as far as ordinary tourists are concerned.

Our masters, please take note: forget commissioning newfangled projects, just maintain the old attractions. It is cheaper and easier-and a lot more popular. Has anyone ever heard a tourist asking for directions to the Dome?

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